Device for automatically sounding wind instruments

ABSTRACT

A whistle is blown by air supplied by a bellows operated by a bellows-actuating cam, by which the sound duration and loudness can be controlled, and the pitch of the sound thus produced is controllably varied by a pitch-control cam, both cams being mounted on the periphery of a spring-operated barrel, whereby whistle sound compositions of great variety can be rendered automatically.

United States Patent 7 Inventor Yoshito Suzuki u Tokyo. Japan App]. No.58,968

Filed July 28, 1970 Patented Aug. 31, 1971 A Assignee Tokyo PigeonKabushiki Kaisha Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan Priority 1 July 28,1969 Japan 709 1 2/ 1969 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SOUNDING WINDINSTRUMENTS 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 116/137, 46/181, 84/386, 116/24, 116/139 Int. Cl .i 6011: 5/00Field olSearch 116/137,

139; 1Z2, 1 iii/5,335 1 1 31; 6;, 24; 46/178, 181; 84/89, 93, 355, 386

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 428,667 5/1890 Crosby et a1116/24 571,639 11/1896 Boettcher 116/139 1,599,158 9/1926 WOOd 116/242,414,656 1/1947 Miller 1 16/142 UX 2,730,920 1/1956 Bacon 116/137X3,154,996 1 1/1964 Krilanovich 1 16/142 UX Primary ExaminerLouis J.Capozi Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz and Nissen ABSTRACT: A whistleis blown by air supplied by a bellows operated by a bellows-actuatingcam, by which the sound duration and loudness can be controlled, and thepitch of the sound thus produced is controllably varied by apitch-control cam, both cams being mounted on the periphery of aspringoperated barrel, whereby whistle sound compositions of greatvariety can be rendered automatically.

PATENTEDAUBBI IBH I 502,189

SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG. I

PATENIEUAIJBM Ian 8.602.189

SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 3

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SOUNDING WIND INSTRUMENTS I BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION such as a spring or motor to vary the length of the air columnin the vibration chamber in the wind instrument.

In a known device of this class, a valve is provided in the air flowpath between a bellows and the wind instrument and operated in openingand closing movements by the tooth profile of a sound loudness-controlcam driven together with a sound pitch-control cam, and the bellows isactuated by a separate driving mechanism to supply air storedtherewithin to the air inlet port of the wind instrument in accordancewith valve, degree of opening of the valve, whereby the loudness of theemitted sound is controlled. At the same time, the time du rationof thesound is varied by varying the length in the circumferential directionof the cam teeth. Consequently, the entire device unavoidablybecomesrvery complicated, bulky, and

expensive.

, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- It is an object of the present invention toprovide a device for automatically sounding wind instruments which isnot accompanied by the above-described drawback.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe above-described class in which a combination of bellows-actuatingmeans. sound duration-control means, and sound loudness-control meansare all incorporated integrally in a single cam-actuated mechanism,whereby the device can be greatly simplified and produced at relativelylow cost.

According to the present invention, briefly summarized, there isprovided a device for sounding a wind instrument in which there areprovided a sound pitch-control cam, a bellows-actuating cam driventogether with the pitch-control cam and having numerous cam teeth of aprofile in accordance at least with the desired sound duration, abellows having an actuating head and an air discharge port connected tothe wind instrument, which bellows has an elastic characteristic wherebyit can be compressed by a force applied at its actuating head butcontinually tends to return to a normally expanded state, and a levermechanism having a cam-following part for following the cam toothprofile of the bellows-actuating cam and an actuating part coupled tothe actuating head of the bellows, whereby the bellows is compressed inaccordance with the cam tooth profile to blow air into and thereby soundthe wind instrument.

' The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will be moreclearly apparent from the following detailed description with respect toa preferred embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing,'

throughout which like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DEAWING FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagram showinga part of the profile in developed form of a pitch-adjusting cam used inthe device; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagram showing a part of the profile indeveloped form of a bellows-actuating cam used in the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, the functional parts'ofthe whistleblowing device shown therein are mounted as a compactassembly on a baseplate 3. Three stud posts or pillars 3a fixed to thebaseplate 3 rigidly support a bridge plate 11 parallel to the baseplate,and a drive spring shaft 12 is rotatably supported between andperpendicular to this bridge plate and the baseplate. This spring shaft12 can rotate in only one direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 1 orcounterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2), being prevented from rotating inreverse direction by mechanism as described below.

A pawl disk 130 having three cantilever spring pawls 13 is coaxiallyfixed to the spring shaft 12 in a position such that the working toothtips of the pawls 13 are pressed by spring force against one surface(the lower surface as viewed in FIG. 1) of the bridge plate 11. Inpositions in a circle coaxial with the spring shaft 12 to confront thetooth tips of the spring pawls 13, there are formed in the bridge plate11 a large number of joggled or raised parts 14 and tooth ledges 15resembling ratchet teeth. Thus, the tooth tips of the spring pawls 13engage with these ledges 15, whereby reverse rotation of the drivespring shaft 12 is prevented.

Between the bridge plate 11 and the baseplate 3 and coaxially around theshaft 12, there is provided a rotating barrel 21 comprising a cup-shapedcylinder 16 having gear teeth 17 formed around the outer peripherythereof, a sound pitchcontrol cam 18 of cap shape having a large numberof cam projections or teeth 19 formed on the outer periphery thereof, abellows-actuating cam l of annular shape interposed between the cam 18and the cylinder 16 andhaving cam teeth 2 formed on the outer peripherythereof, and screws 20 integrally connecting these barrel parts. Thesebarrel parts I8, 1, and 16 are made of a thermoplastic resin of highresistance to wear.

The rotating barrel 21 houses a sealed-in drive spring 22 of spirallywound ribbon-type disposed around the middle part of the aforementioneddrive spring shaft 12 and having outer and inner ends respectivelyanchored to the inner wall of the barrel 21 and the shaft 12.Furthermore, the barrel 21 is supported around the shaft 12 in a mannersuch as to permit only rotation of the barrel. Accordingly, when thedrive spring shaft 12 is rotated in the arrow direction shown in FIG. Ito wind the drive spring 22, a torque urging the barrel to rotate in thearrow direction (counterclockwise) in FIG. 2 is applied thereto by thedrive spring thus wound.

To one side of the barrel 21, there is provided a bellows as semblycomprising a bellows 8 of cup shape with a rim part of maximum diameterat its open end and a disk 25 having an opening for receiving theair-blowing tube- 9 of a whistle 10, the rim part of the bellows 8 beingsecured in an airtight manner around the outer periphery of the disk 25.The disk 25 is rigidly supported with its axis parallel to the baseplate3 by two pillars 26 fixed to and'supported by the baseplate 3, and thebellows 8 is thereby supported with its axis also parallel to thebaseplate 3.

The bellows 8 is made of a rubber material and diminishes stepwisely indiameter from its open end secured to the disk 25 to its closed end 80,which has a relatively large thickness and thereby constitutes arelatively rigid head structure. This head structure is provided on itsouter central part with a necked or grooved buttonlike part 23, which isengaged by a fork 24 formed on the end of one arm of a lever 7 pivotedon a pivot pin 4 mounted on the baseplate 3 perpendicular thereto.

The lever 7, which thereby can pivot in a plane parallel to thebaseplate 3, has an opposite arm having an end in the form 3 of a cam"follower 6 for contacting and following the profile of theaforementioned bellows-actuating cam l. The bellows 8, which is ofelastically flexible nature permitting it to be expanded and compressed,assumes a normally expanded state when free and, therefore, continuallyexerts a force on the fork 24 whereby the follower 6 is causedcontinually to follow the profile of the bellows-actuating cam l.

The aforementioned whistle 10. having an air-blowing tube 9 fitted in anaperture in the disk 25, is of known flute type having a guidepiece 27for forming a narrow slit within the tube 9, an edge opening 28, and anair-column tube 29 open at its outer end. The air-column tube 29 isprovided therewithin with a slidable piston 30 for adjusting the lengthof the air column or air vibration chamber within the tube 29 andthereby the whistle sound pitch. The outer side of the piston 30 isfixed to the inner end of a piston rod 31, the outer end of whichextends out of the tube 29 at the open end thereof and has a necked orgrooved buttonlike part 32.

The buttonlike part 32 is engaged with a fork 35 formed on the end ofone arm of a lever 34 pivoted by a pivot pin 33 disposed perpendicularlyto the baseplate 3 and supported on a pillar 37 fixed perpendicularly tothe baseplate. The lever 34, which is thereby pivoted to rotate in aplane parallel to the baseplate, has another arm with an end in the formof a cam follower 36 to follow the profile 19 of the aforementionedpitch-control cam 18. The cam follower 36 is continually pressed againstthe outer periphery of the pitch-control cam 18 by a wound spring 38disposed around the upper part of the pillar 37 and engaged at its endsrespectively with a pillar 37a formed integrally with the pillar 37 andthe lever 34.

Accordingly, rotation of pitch-control cam 18 causes oscillatory motionof lever 34 about pivot 33, whereby, in accordance with the shape anddimensions of projections 19 on theperiphery of the cam 18, piston 30slides within air-column tube 29 to vary the length of the air columntherewithin and thereby to control the sound pitch.

The rotational speed of the rotating barrel 21 is maintained at asubstantially constant value, irrespective of theforce exerted by thedrive spring 22, by a governor 39, which is driven at increased speed bypower derived from the gear 17 of the barrel 21. More specifically, therotation of the gear 17 is transmitted through a speed-increasing geartraincomprising a pinion 40, a gear 41, a pinion 42, arworm wheel 43,and a worm 44 to a governor rotor 45 integrally fixed to the worm 44.

The governor rotor 45 supports brakeshoes (not shown) which are operatedby centrifugal force' to expand and contact the internal wall surface ofa brakedrum 46 mounted on the baseplate 3.

When the rotational speed of the governor rotor 45 begins to exceed apredetermined value, the brakeshoes contact the brakedrum 46 to retardthe rotation of the rotor 45 and thereby to maintain the rotationalspeed thereof at a constant value.

A lock lever 47 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 48 on thebaseplate and can be operated manually to hold the rotating barrel 21indirectly in stopped state. More specifically, one arm of the lever 47extending beyond the periphery of the baseplate 3 as viewed in plan viewcan be manipulated manually to cause the tip 49 of another arm of thelever to engage with a projecting lug 50 of the governor rotor 45 tolock the rotor against rotation and thereby to lock the barrel 2].

A lever 51 is pivotally supported at its middle part by a pivot pin '53on the bridge plate 11 and supports on the end of one arm thereof aplatform 52 for mounting thereon a toy bird or the like (not shown). Theopposite arm of the lever 51 is a bent L-shaped arm 54, the lower end ofwhich is placed in contact with the aforementioned lever 7 fortransmitting actuating motion to the bellows 8. Accordingly,oscillations of the lever 7 cause the platform 52, and therefore the toybird or the like, to bob up and down.

The device of the above-described organization according to theinvention 'is wound and operates in the following manner. The drivespring 22 is wound up in the same manner as the main spring in anordinary, clock or similar clockwork mechanism. That is, lock lever 47is placed in its locking position, and drive spring shaft 12 is rotatedin the arrow direction of FIG. 1 by winding means (not shown) connectedto the end thereof opposite the end to which pawl disk [30 is fixedthereby to wind drive spring 22. Reverse rotation of the shaft 12 tocause unwinding of the spring 22 is prevented by the aforedescribedratchet and pawl mechanism comprising the pawl disk 13a with its springpawls 13 tooth ledges 15.

The device is then in astate of readiness for its operation, which isstarted by turning lock lever 47 to its release position, whereuponrotating barrel 21 rotates at constant speed in the arrow directionshown in FIG. 2.

Accordingly, bellows-actuating cam 1 rotates together with barrel 21,and cam follower 6 follows the profile of cam 1. That is, while camfollower 6 is being raised by a bellows-actuating inclined surface 5 ofa cam tooth 2, lever 7 is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewedin FIG. 2 about pivot 4, whereby bellows 8 is compressed to blow airinto whistle l0, and a whistle sound is generated by edge opening 28.Then, while cam follower 6 is descending the opposite inclined surfaceof cam tooth 2, bellows 8 expands and is returned to its former state byits own elastic force.

Thus, variations in the duration of the sound thus generated can beproduced by varying the length of the bellows-actuating inclined surface5 of the cam 1. Accordingly, by using this means of controlling theduration of the generated soundin conjunction with the aforedescribedmeans for controlling the pitch of the generated sound in accordancewith the pitchcontrol cam 18, it is possible to render sounds of variousduraby selectively varying the angles of the slopes 0 (as indicated inFIG. 5) relative to the datum line (actually an arc) ofbellows-actuating inclined surfaces 5 of the pertinent cam teeth 2.Then, since the rotational speed of the bellows-actuating cam l issubstantiallyconstant, the speed with which the bellows 8 is compressedis varied, whereby the loudness of the generated sound can becontrolled.

Thus, the present invention provides a combination of abellows-actuating means, a sound duration control means, and soundloudness control means all incorporated integrally in a singlecam-actuated mechanism. Whereby blowing device for automaticallysounding wind instruments including whistles can be simplified andproduced at relatively low cost.

I claim:

1. In a device for automatically sounding a wind instrument of the classwherein means for controllably varying the length of the air column inthe vibration chamber of said instrument is actuated by a soundpitch-control cam moving at substantially constant speed, the improvedcombination therewith of a bellows-actuating cam driven together withsaid pitch-control cam and provided around its peripheral cam surfacewith numerous cam teeth of tooth profile in accordance with at leastrespective sound durations, a bellows having an actuating head and anair discharge port connected to said wind instrument, said bellowshaving an elastic characteristic whereby it can be compressed butcontinually tends to return to a normally expanded state, and a levermechanism having a camfollowing part for engaging and following said camtooth profile and an actuating part coupled to said actuating head ofthe bellows, whereby the bellows is compressed in accordance with thecam tooth profile to blow air into and thereby sound the windinstrument.

2. An improved combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said means forcontrollably varying the length of the air column in the vibrationchamber of the instrument is a piston which is slidably operable withinsaid chamber and is connected to a piston rod coupled to and actuated bya lever mechanism actuated by said sound pitch-control cam.

3. An improved combination as claimed in claim 1 in which saidpitch-control cam and bellows-actuating cam are both formed on the outercylindrical periphery of a single, hollow rotating barrel rotationallydriven by a spring mechanism.

1. In a device for automatically sounding a wind instrument of the classwherein means for controllably varying the length of the air column inthe vibration chamber of Said instrument is actuated by a soundpitch-control cam moving at substantially constant speed, the improvedcombination therewith of a bellowsactuating cam driven together withsaid pitch-control cam and provided around its peripheral cam surfacewith numerous cam teeth of tooth profile in accordance with at leastrespective sound durations, a bellows having an actuating head and anair discharge port connected to said wind instrument, said bellowshaving an elastic characteristic whereby it can be compressed butcontinually tends to return to a normally expanded state, and a levermechanism having a cam-following part for engaging and following saidcam tooth profile and an actuating part coupled to said actuating headof the bellows, whereby the bellows is compressed in accordance with thecam tooth profile to blow air into and thereby sound the windinstrument.
 2. An improved combination as claimed in claim 1 in whichsaid means for controllably varying the length of the air column in thevibration chamber of the instrument is a piston which is slidablyoperable within said chamber and is connected to a piston rod coupled toand actuated by a lever mechanism actuated by said sound pitch-controlcam.
 3. An improved combination as claimed in claim 1 in which saidpitch-control cam and bellows-actuating cam are both formed on the outercylindrical periphery of a single, hollow rotating barrel rotationallydriven by a spring mechanism.